Power and Data Center (PDC) for Automotive Applications

1. A system comprising: a plurality of computing platforms for a vehicle and coupled together in a ring topology in a ring network of the vehicle; a plurality of power and data centers (PDCs) coupled together and to the computing platforms in the ring topology of the ring network of the vehicle, the PDCs each including at least one sensor interface and at least one data interface, the sensor interface configured to receive sensor data from one or more sensors, the data interface configured to transmit the sensor data into the ring network for input to at least one of the computing platforms or the PDCs; and a plurality of power supply rings separate from the ring network, each power supply ring being configured to distribute power from a different power source or source system and to the computing platforms and the PDCs.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the ring network is a multi-ring, self-healing network.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein at least one computing platform provides autonomous driving functionality.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein each PDC includes, in one or more housings, the at least one data interface, the at least one sensor interface and a power interface that distributes power to the one or more sensors.

5. The system of claim 1 , the system further comprising: a first set of sensors and a first PDC associated with a first zone of a vehicle; and a second set of sensors and a second PDC associated with a second zone of the vehicle, at least one sensor from the second set of sensors is coupled to a first PDC, and at least one sensor from the first set of sensors is coupled to a second PDC.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein at least one PDC of the plurality of PDCs is configured to: receive sensor data from at least one sensor; compress the sensor data; and transmit the compressed sensor data to the ring network.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein at least one PDC of the plurality of PDCs is configured to: receive processed sensor data from at least one sensor; and transmit the processed sensor data to the ring network.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein at least one PDC of the plurality of PDCs is configured to: receive raw sensor data from two or more sensors; process the raw sensor data to provide fused sensor data; and transmit the fused sensor data to the ring network.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein at least one PDC of the plurality of PDCs includes one or more controller-circuits coupled to one or more actuators that is configured to provide a single vehicle function or multiple vehicle functions.

10. The system of claim 1 , wherein at least one PDC of the plurality of PDCs is coupled to at least one computing platform or another PDC node by two or more redundant data links, wherein each of the data links is configured to use a protocol or physical layer that is different than used by the other data links.

11. The system of claim 4 , wherein at least one PDC of the plurality of PDCs includes circuitry in the power interface that is configured to measure at least one of input or output voltage or current from or to a power supply ring to detect a power failure in at least a portion of the ring network.

12. The system of claim 11 , wherein the measuring includes measuring a rate of change of at least one of the input or output voltage or current.

13. The system of claim 1 , wherein the system is configured to: in accordance with detecting a failure of a computing node, cause, by switching circuitry, data to travel in an opposite direction of the ring network.

14. The system of claim 1 , wherein the system is configured to: in accordance with detection of a failure of a computing node, cause, by a PDC of the plurality of PDCs, the PDC or the one or more sensors to slow their respective output data rates.

15. The system of claim 1 , wherein the system is configured to: in accordance with detection of a failure of a computing node, cause, by the at least one computing platform, a vehicle to enter a fail-safe mode.

16. The system of claim 1 , wherein a PDC of the plurality of PDCs includes at least two power inputs that are operable to connect inside the PDC and isolate the at least two power inputs against each other in response to failure of a power supply ring or a power supply coupled to the power supply ring.

17. The system of claim 1 , wherein the sensor interface of the PDC includes at least one of circuitry or software to receive and process raw or pre-processed sensor data from two or more different sensors using two or more physical layers or protocols.

18. The system of claim 4 , wherein the power interface of the PDC includes at least a portion of power circuitry that provides a stabilized and filtered voltage supply to at least one sensor coupled to the PDC.

19. A method comprising: distributing, from a plurality of power source or source systems each coupled to a different power supply ring and through a power interface of a power and data center (PDC) included in a vehicle, power to one or more sensors of the vehicle; receiving, through a sensor interface of the PDC, sensor data from the one or more sensors; transmitting, by output ports of the PDC and according to a ring topology of a multi-ring data network of the vehicle that is separate from each different power supply ring coupled to the PDC and to at least one computing platform the sensor data into the multi-ring data network of the vehicle; determining, by the at least one computing platform for the vehicle that is coupled to the multi-ring data network of the vehicle, at least one operation associated with autonomous driving of the vehicle, the at least one operation determined at least in part based on the sensor data that is transmitted into the multi-ring data network of the vehicle; and causing, by the at least one computing platform, the vehicle to perform the at least one operation associated with autonomous driving of the vehicle.

20. The method of claim 19 , wherein there are at least two sensors, the method further comprising: processing, by the PDC, sensor data from the at least two sensors, the processing including fusing, transforming or pre-processing the sensor data.

21. The method of claim 20 , wherein the at least two sensors include a camera and a LIDAR, and fusing the sensor data includes generating an object map or list based on object detections by the camera and LIDAR.

22. The method of claim 19 , further comprising: compressing, by the PDC, the sensor data before transmitting the sensor data into the multi-ring data network.

23. The method of claim 19 , further comprising: determining, by the PDC, a failure in the multi-ring data network; and responsive to the determination of the failure in the multi-ring data network, causing circuitry in the PDC to reconfigure a portion of the multi-ring data network to create a data path that circumvents the failure.

24. The method of claim 23 , wherein determining a failure in the multi-ring data network further comprises: determining that a rate of change in PDC input or output voltage or current exceeds a predetermined threshold value.

25. The method of claim 19 , further comprising: determining, by the PDC, a failure in a first power ring coupled to the PDC; and responsive to the determination of the failure in the first power ring, causing circuitry in the PDC to reconfigure the PDC to use power from a second, redundant power ring coupled to the PDC.

26. The method of claim 19 , further comprising: distributing, by the PDC, filtered power to the one or more sensors.

27. An automotive data routing ring network, comprising: at least one compute ring network of a vehicle, the at least one compute ring network including two or more processors for a vehicle and coupled together in a ring topology of the at least one compute ring network of the vehicle; at least one sensor ring network of the vehicle, the at least one sensor ring network comprising two or more data distribution devices for the vehicle, each data distribution device coupled to at least one sensor and to the at least one compute ring network, each data distribution device monitoring for failure of at least one segment of the at least one sensor ring network, and configured to: in accordance with detection of a first failure by a first data distribution device in the sensor ring network, redirect data traffic to a second data distribution device in the sensor ring network; and in accordance with detecting a second failure of at least one segment of the compute ring network, redirect data traffic from a first processor in the compute ring network to a second processor in the compute ring network; and at least one power ring of the vehicle, the at least one power ring being separate from the at least one compute ring network and the at least one sensor ring network, the at least one power ring including two or more data distribution devices and two or more power supplies, the at least one power ring configured to supply power from the two or more power supplies through the two or more data distribution devices, and to at least one sensor and to the compute ring network.

28. The automotive data routing ring network of claim 27 , wherein at least one of the data distribution devices is configured to pass through sensor data unprocessed to the sensor ring network or fuses sensor data from two or more sensors coupled to the data distribution device and to transmit the fused data to the sensor ring network.

29. The automotive data routing ring network of claim 28 , wherein the two or more sensors include at least one camera and one LIDAR, and fusing the sensor data from the camera and LIDAR includes creating an object map or object list based on objects detected by the at least one LIDAR and camera.

30. The automotive data routing ring network of claim 28 , wherein at least one of the data distribution devices compresses sensor data from the at least one sensor.

31. The automotive data routing ring network of claim 28 , each data distribution device being configured to: monitor for failure of at least one segment of the power ring, and in accordance with detection of a first failure of the power ring by a first data distribution device, redirect power from a first power supply of the two or more power supplies to a second power supply of two or more power supplies.

32. A power and data center (PDC) for an automotive electrical and electronic (E/E) system, the PDC comprising: a sensor interface including redundant sensor data ports for coupling to at least one sensor of a vehicle; a data network interface including redundant network data ports for coupling to a ring network of the vehicle; a processor coupled to the sensor interface and the data network interface, the processor configured to: receive sensor data from the redundant sensor data ports, process the sensor data, and output the processed sensor data to the ring network of the vehicle and in accordance with a ring topology on the redundant network data ports; and a power switch coupled to redundant network power supply rails, redundant sensor power supply rails, and the processor, the processor configured to cause the power switch to disconnect a first network power supply rail couples coupled to a first power supply ring configured to supply power from a first power source or source system and to connect a second network power supply rail coupled to a second power supply ring configured to supply power from a second power source or source system.

33. The PDC of claim 32 , wherein the processor causes the power switch to galvanically isolate the first and the second network power supply rails from each other.

34. The PDC of claim 32 , wherein the processing includes compressing sensor data received at the redundant sensor data ports.

35. The PDC of claim 32 , wherein the processing includes fusing raw sensor data received at two or more pairs of redundant sensor data ports.

36. The PDC of claim 32 , further comprising a first switch, a second switch, and a third switch, an input of the first switch coupled to an output of the power switch, an input of the second switch coupled to an output of the first switch, and an output of the second switch coupled to a first network power rail, an input of the third switch coupled to the output of the first switch, and an output of the third switch coupled to a second network power rail.

37. The PDC of claim 32 , wherein the redundant network data ports support two or more different protocols or physical layers.

38. The PDC of claim 32 , where the redundant sensor data ports support two or more different protocols or physical layers.

39. A system comprising: a plurality of computing platforms for a vehicle and coupled together in a ring topology in a ring network of the vehicle; a plurality of power and data centers (PDCs) coupled together and to the computing platforms in the ring topology of the ring network of the vehicle, the PDCs each including at least one sensor interface and at least one data interface, the sensor interface configured to receive sensor data from one or more sensors, the data interface configured to transmit the sensor data into the ring network for input to at least one of the computing platforms or the PDCs, wherein at least one PDC of the plurality of PDCs is configured to establish a transparent data link through the ring network with at least one computing platform; and a plurality of power supply rings separate from the ring network, each power supply ring being configured to distribute power from a different power source or source system and to the computing platforms and the PDCs.

40. The system of claim 39 , wherein at least one PDC of the plurality of PDCs is configured to establish a transparent data link with at least one computing platform using a Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCIe) switch.

41. An automotive electrical and electronic system for a partially or fully autonomous vehicle, the system comprising: a set of sensors for sensing an operating environment of the vehicle; and an automated driving server coupled to the set of sensors according to a star topology of a star network of a vehicle, the automated driving server configured to perform computations for operating the autonomous vehicle in the environment, the automated driving server configured to detect a failure in the system and to select a level of redundancy for the system, including selecting a subset of the set of sensors in the star network of the vehicle for use in the operating of the vehicle.

42. A method comprising: detecting a failure in an automotive electrical and electronic system of a vehicle, the system including a plurality of sensors configured to communicate according to a star topology of a star network of a vehicle with an automated driving server for operating the vehicle; and in accordance with detection of the failure, selecting a level of redundancy for the system, the selecting including selecting a subset of the sensors in the star network of the vehicle for use in the operating of the vehicle.

43. An automotive electrical and electronic system comprising: a first power and data center (PDC) including a first sensor interface configured to receive sensor data from one or more sensors and a first data interface configured to transmit the sensor data according to a ring topology onto a first ring network of a vehicle; a first computing platform for the vehicle; a first data platform for the vehicle, wherein: the first PDC is connected to the first computing platform via a first path of the first ring network of the vehicle that is configured to transmit the sensor data, the first path including the first data platform, the first PDC is connected to the first computing platform via a second path of the first ring network of the vehicle, the second path being different from the first path and does not include the first data platform, and the first data interface of the first PDC is configured to transmit the sensor data according to the ring topology to the first computing platform via the first path and the second path; and a plurality of power supply rings separate from the first ring network, each power supply ring being configured to distribute power from a different power source or source system and to the first computing platform and the first PDC.

44. The system of claim 43 , wherein the first path, the second path, the first PDC, and the first computing platform form the first ring network.

45. The system of claim 43 , further comprising: a second PDC, wherein the second PDC is included in either the first path or the second path.

46. The system of claim 45 , further comprising: a first sensor connected to the first PDC; and a second sensor connected to the second PDC, wherein a physical distance from the first sensor to the first PDC is less than a physical distance from the first sensor to the second PDC, and wherein a physical distance from the second sensor to the first PDC is less than a physical distance from the second sensor to the second PDC.

47. The system of claim 45 , wherein the first PDC is connected to the second PDC without an intervening PDC or computing platform.

48. The system of claim 45 , wherein the first computing platform is configured to: in accordance with a determination that the first PDC is functioning, receive power via the first PDC; and in accordance with a determination that the first PDC is not functioning, receive power via the second PDC.

49. The system of claim 43 , wherein the first data platform is a second computing platform, the system further comprising a third computing platform, wherein: the first computing platform is connected to the second computing platform via a third path that includes the third computing platform, and the first computing platform is connected to the second computing platform via a fourth path, different from the third path, that does not include the third computing platform.

50. The system of claim 49 , wherein the third path, the fourth path, the first computing platform, the second computing platform, and the third computing platform form a second ring network.

51. The system of claim 49 , wherein the third path does not include the first PDC and the fourth path does not include the first PDC.

52. The system of claim 43 , further comprising: a first power supply ring including the first PDC; and a first power source connected to the first power supply ring, wherein the first computing platform is coupled to the first power supply ring.

53. The system of claim 52 , further comprising: a second power source coupled to the first power supply ring.

54. The system of claim 53 , wherein the first PDC is configured to: in accordance with a determination that the first power source is functioning, receive power from the first power source; and in accordance with a determination that the first power source is not functioning, receive power from the second power source.

55. The system of claim 53 , wherein the first computing platform is configured to: in accordance with a determination that the first power source is functioning, receive power from the first power source; and in accordance with a determination that the first power source is not functioning, receive power from the second power source.

56. An automotive electrical and electronic system for a vehicle, the system comprising: a sensor ring network of a vehicle; a plurality of sensors coupled to the sensor ring network of the vehicle; a server ring network of the vehicle; one or more computing platforms of the vehicle coupled to the server ring network of the vehicle, the one or more computing platforms configured to control mobility functions of the vehicle through the sensor ring network of the vehicle; a plurality of power and data centers (PDCs) of the vehicle coupled to the sensor ring network of the vehicle and configured to aggregate sensor data from one or more of the plurality of sensors; a gateway coupled to the server ring network of the vehicle and the plurality of PDCs through individual bus connections, the gateway configured to control body-control functions of the vehicle based on sensor data received according to a ring topology and through one or more of the individual bus connections of the server ring network of the vehicle; and a plurality of power supply rings separate from the sensor ring and separate from the server ring network of the vehicle, each power supply ring being configured to distribute power from a different power source or source system and to the one or more computing platforms and the plurality of PDCs.

57. The system of claim 56 , wherein at least one PDC of the plurality of PDCs is configured to establish a transparent data link with at least one computing platform using a Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCIe) switch.

58. The system of claim 56 , wherein the one or more computing platforms are configured to implement: a dynamic hardware partitioning layer to share hardware for safety relevant software; a middleware to abstract safety relevant software from the hardware; and a hypervisor to abstract other software and hardware.